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Strasburg hurts knee, won't need surgery (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:52:54 PST

The Nationals say No. 1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg has a dislocation in his left knee joint and should be fine for spring training. Strasburg was examined Friday by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles. The Nationals say Strasburg will not require surgery, and that treatment will include rest and physical therapy.

Free agents face tough market (AP)

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:04:59 PST

It's the time of year in baseball for courting and bluffing -- sometimes simultaneously. Free agent signing season began Friday with teams competing for a dearth of stars and a large number of players nearing the end of their careers. With only pitcher John Lackey and outfielders Matt Holliday and Jason Bay considered elite players by most, it could be a slow signing season as teams seek to...

White Sox close to deal with SS Vizquel (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:36:58 PST

The Chicago White Sox are closing in on a contract agreement with free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel. The deal could be announced as soon as Monday, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not commented. Vizquel, who will be 43 in April, has played 21 major league seasons.

Cubs, Grabow agree to 2-yr, $7.5M deal (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:34:08 PST

Pitcher John Grabow became the first of the 171 free agents to reach agreement on a new deal, getting a $7.5 million, two-year contract Friday from the Chicago Cubs. The 31-year-old left-hander combined to go 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA last season in a career-high 75 relief appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs.

New-age stats shed light on Cy Youngs (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:38:56 PST

For so many years, the formula for winning a Cy Young Award was pretty simple: Win a lot of games. Denny McLain was a unanimous pick in 1968 and deservedly so. He posted 31 victories -- the combined total of this year's Cy Young starters, Tim Lincecum and Zack Greinke. A whopping win total, a good ERA and a bunch of strikeouts often brought home the hardware.

Nats name McLaren, Lett, Radison coaches (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:54:02 PST

Former Seattle Mariners manager John McLaren was hired Friday as bench coach for the Washington Nationals, who rounded out manager Jim Riggleman's staff by also adding Jim Lett as bullpen coach and Dan Radison as first-base coach. McLaren replaces Pat Corrales, Lett takes over for Randy Knorr, and Radison replaces Marquis Grissom.

Lincecum wins second straight Cy Young (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:20:06 PST

Tim Lincecum has been so dominant in his first two full major league seasons that even his top bosses don't know how he can get much better. Two NL Cy Young Awards, a pair of All-Star selections -- all at age 25. Lincecum has a couple of ideas in that area: Grow up and make better decisions personally, and pitch the San Francisco Giants into the playoffs at last.

Selig: Some clubs lost money in 2009 (AP)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:43:00 PST

Some teams lost money in 2009, baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday after the final owners meeting of the year. "There was no question about that," Selig said. "I don't think the concerns have been ameliorated at all. I think the concerns are still there because all these people have their own economists." Selig said final figures for this year are still being...

Tracy, Scioscia named managers of year (AP)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:10:01 PST

Jim Tracy was out of baseball when Clint Hurdle called last October to talk to him about joining Hurdle's staff in Colorado. Tracy was focused on his duties as bench coach for the Rockies when he came to spring training. Now, he's the NL Manager of the Year -- and has a new contract, too. Talk about a nice season.